Searching for the truth in Twisha Sharma’s death

With the CBI set to begin investigation, the conduct of the mother-in-law, a former district judge, has come under the spotlight

- Barkha Dutt

Sharma with her father, Manoj, and mother, Rupa, in an undated photo. A CBI probe into her death was ordered after her father moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Her absolute lack of visible emotion, unflappable and chillingly cold demeanour, and brazen misogyny is not the only reason Giribala Singh is in the national spotlight.

I did a double-take, recoiling more than once as I interviewed Singh after her daughter-in-law, former model and actor Twisha Sharma was found dead (allegedly) by hanging in her in-laws’ house in Bhopal. I shuddered to think that Singh had been a district judge.

Think of all the female petitioners who would have brought their own chronicles of harassment, abuse, and domestic violence to her court. Would she have treated them with the contempt and character assassination she has reserved for her son's wife?

So, why was I interviewing an accused in a dowry, assault, abuse and abetment to suicide case? Because Singh's press conference, where she made sweeping allegations against a young woman who was no longer alive to defend herself, was absolutely atrocious. Sadly, she received very little push-back against her innuendo and smears.

And so I chose a few central questions to confront her.